Bomb rumors at Pleasant Valley High School fizzle out

An investigation over three days by Pleasant Valley School District personnel and Pennsylvania State Police into rumors that a bomb was set to go off at Pleasant Valley High School found no threat.

CHAD SMITH

An investigation over three days by Pleasant Valley School District personnel and Pennsylvania State Police into rumors that a bomb was set to go off at Pleasant Valley High School found no threat.

The investigation began Monday, when rumors first surfaced, said Carole Geary, associate superintendent of curriculum. It involved scores of interviews with students and several K-9 bomb sweeps through the building, among other things.

All the investigative work found the rumors were bogus and "everything is completely safe and back to normal," Geary said Wednesday.

Things began on Monday when a high school teacher overheard students discussing rumors of a bomb threat against the school. The teacher reported the chatter to administrators, who called state police. Administrators interviewed students who might have information or were thought to be involved in any possible plot.

"We interviewed tons and tons of kids"»" said Geary. "But we weren't finding anything to substantiate the threat."

Still, the school district wanted to continue its investigation. The district ramped up security measures and made more students walk through metal detectors as they entered the school Monday and Tuesday.

Because the public was allowed to walk through the high school during a Halloween event held at the school Tuesday night, the district asked state police to do an extra sweep of the building Wednesday morning with a K-9 unit. The middle school was also checked even though no threat against it was made.

Geary said she felt that the investigation had gone smoothly. The school has emergency plans in place and the district's swift response in this case demonstrated that it is prepared to handle potential threats, she said.

Geary said that the district was going to send out automated phone calls Wednesday to parents to update them about what had occurred.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.